Clasp.



PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.l v-

F. N. ASHWORTH.

CLASP.

APPLIUATION' FILED un. 2e, 1904.

No MODEL.

l n u I n u u l l u l 1 1 l l u l UNiTiED STATESv Patented October 25, V1 904.

PATENT Orifice.'

FRED N. ASHVVORTH, OFSOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLASP.-

sPEcIFicATIoN forming part of Letters Pai-.ent No. 772,913, dated october 25, 1904.

Appiioaiiou ne@ March 26, 1904.

T0 (ti/Z whom, if Netty concern:

Be it known that I, FRED N. AsHWoRrH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved clasp for connecting together the ends of cords, and is especially adapted for connecting the ends of covered elastic cords such as are used in the manufacture of sleeve-supporters, elastic cords for cash-carriers, and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which may be readily and conveniently applied to a cord so as to firmlyjoin the two ends of said cord together without injury to the saine and without possibility of any por- 'tion' of sa-idcord or its covering projectingvbetween the meeting edges of said clasp.

The invention consists in -a clasp of sheet material made in two parts-viz., an outer clamp, which is adapted to extend entirely around a cord, and an inner clamp, which eX- tends only partly around said cord inside said outer clamp vand across the meeting edges thereof, whereby said cord or the covering space in the drawings.

thereof is prevented from projecting between said meeting edges.

The ,invention again consists inthe combi-v nation and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and particularly. pointed outin the claims thereof.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved clasp, showing the same connecting togethertwo ends ofa cord, the cord being broken awayA to save Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig.

'11 is a perspective view of one form of inner clamp. Fig. 5 is a plan view of my improved clamp, showing the same as it appears when first attached to the ends of a cord and before it is clamped therearound. Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig.

- 7 is a view .similar to Fig. 5, showing the clamp partly closed. Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on line 8 8v of Fig. 7. Figs. 9,

seriai No. 200,094. (No model ing preferablycorrugated or notched in or-` der to enable-.them to firmly grasp the .cord when said clamp is clamped thereto, as hereinafterv described.

2O is an inner clamp formed of sheet metal and in its preferred form is V-shaped, as illustrated in Fig. 1,'and provided at its opposite ends with a prong or prongs 21, which are adapted to project into said cord when the clamps are attached thereto.

In attachingv a clamp to the two ends of a cord for the purpose of' connecting them together, and especially in the case of elastic cords covered-with a soft cotton or woolen material, if a clasp consisting only of a clamp similar to the outer clamp 18 is clamped. around said cord it is veryfdifficult and almost impossibleto prevent said soft covering from being caught'and cut between the meeting edges of said clamp, and for the purpose of overcoming this objection I provide the inner clamp 20.

In attaching my improved clamp to the two ends of a cord said ends are first placed in the outer clamp 18, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, and the inner clainp 2O is then placed between and under the edges 22 22 of the clamp 18, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The edges 22 22 are then brought toward each other by compressing tlie outer clamp 18 around the cord, which can be done by a pressure of the finger' and thumb, as said clampis formed of light sheet metal, and as said edges are brought together vthe clamps and cord assume the positions illustrated in, Figs. 7 and 8.V As willbe seen, the cordor its covering is prevented by the clamp 2Ov from projecting outwardly between the edges 22 of said outer clamp 'as' said edges are being brou'ght toward each` other. The outer clamp is finally compressed, by means of pincers or any suitable tool, until the edges 22 22 meet each other, and the inner clamp is pressed into the cord or its covering, as illustrated in Fig. 8, and extends across said meeting edges upon the inner face of the clamp 18.

' It will be noted that when the outer clamp is being compressed so that the edgesQQ shall meet each other the sides of the inner clamp 20 abut against the opposite inner faces of the outer clamp 18 between and beneath the edges 22 and the wedge shape of said inner clamp assists in forcing said inner clampinto the cord or covering' thereof when the outer clamp is being' compressed, as hereinbefore set forth.

The advantages secured by my improved clamp are, first, it is very cheap; second, it is easily applied; third, when so applied it makes a neat finish to the cord and prevents the cord from being injured, so that the life of the cord is very much prolonged, and, finally, the two clamps are secured to the cord in a single clam ping operation, thus saving' a great amount of labor and consequent expense in attaching the clamp to the cord.

It will be noted that the clasp hereinbefore described is applied to the cord without first stretching the cord, thus making it much easier to apply than is the ease in clamps wherein it is necessary first to stretch the cord before applying the clamp thereto.

In Fig. 9 a modified form of inner clamp 20is illustrated, in which instead of a. single prong three prongs 21 are formed upon each end of the clamp. In Fig. 1() another modified form of inner clamp is illustrated, in which the base of the prongs 212 extends throughout the entire length of one side of the wedgeshaped inner clamp 202. In Fig. 11 another form of inner clamp is illustrated, consisting of a plate 203 curved in cross-section instead of \lshaped, as in the forms hereinbefore illustrated and described. In Fig. 12 still another modification of the inner clamp is illustrated, in which the plate 20* is preferably wedge-shaped and provided with prongs 21'l at the ends and with prongs 21u along the opposite sides thereof. In the latter form of clamp when the outer clamp is compressed, as hereinbefore described, the prongs 21v1 are forced into the cord and also the prongs 21d 215 upon opposite sides of said clamp. Thus it will be evident that the inner clamp acts as an assistant to the outer clamp in holding the two ends of the cord together.

iVhileI have described the inner and outer clamps as being formed of sheet metal, l do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to any particular material v as, for instance, the inner clamp may be made of cardboard without departing from the spirit of my invention.

lVhile I have described and claimed my invention in conibination with a cord`I l do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to any particular shape or construction of cord. Said cord might evidently be round, oval, or flat in cross-section without departing frolu the spirit of my invention, and it is also evident that said cord might be made ol' dill'erent kinds of material without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire by Letters Patent to secure, is-m 1. '.lhe combination, with a` cord, of a clasp for connecting' together two ends of said cord comprising an inner and an outer clamp, said outer clamp extending entirely around said cord, said inner clamp extending only partly around said cord, inside said outer clamp and across the lneeting edges thereof.

2. The combination, with a cord, of a clasp for connecting together two ends of said cord, comprising an inner and an outer clamp, said outer clamp extending entirely around said cord, said inner clamp extending only partly around said cord, inside said outer clamp, and across the meeting edges thereof, aud provided upon its ends with prongs adapted to project into said cord.

3. The combination, with a cord, of a clasp for connecting together two ends of said cord, comprising an inner and an outer clamp, said outer clamp extending entirely around said cord, said inner clamp extending only partly around said cord, inside said outer clamp, and across the meeting edges thereof, and provided upon its ends and sides with prongs adapted to project into said cord.

In testimonyY whereof l have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribingl witnesses.

FREI) N. ASIlWOhTVl l.

iVitnesses:

(luaumcs S. Goeman, ANNin J. Dalian'.

iOO 

